Ivory Coast frees 14 Gbagbo allies pending criminal trials

Analysis & Opinion

ABIDJAN (Reuters) - Judicial authorities in Ivory Coast have ordered the release from prison of 14 top allies of ex-president Laurent Gbagbo, including his son, pending criminal trials this year, the state prosecutor said on Monday.

More than 100 suspected supporters of the former president were arrested in the wake of a brief 2011 war that erupted after Gbagbo refused to accept his defeat at the hands of Alassane Ouattara in a presidential run-off in late 2010.

Human rights campaigners had said their detention constituted a major obstacle to reconciliation as Ouattara seeks to heal the wounds of a decade-long political crisis.

"This is only provisional release and procedures leading to their judgment will continue," Richard Christophe Adou said in a statement broadcast on state television.

Those to be released include Gbagbo's son, Michel, the head of his FPI political party, Pascal Affi N'Guessan, and the former governor of West Africa's regional central bank, Philippe Henry Dacoury-Tabley.